WIPocalypse - February

 

It's been a fun month of stitching and I am on track with my plans, I have stitched 12 projects so far this year.

I'm really enjoying doing the 12 Days of Christmas, I shared my finished pieces in my FFO February post. These are my Two Turtle Doves, the first is Jardin Prive and the second Plum Street Samplers. I enjoyed stitching them although the Plum Street had three frog visits, not nice as it's stitched over one. 

Every season at Needlecraft Haven we have two challenges. Christine sets the challenges finding free online designs, one Christmas and one on any theme. The Christmas one was by Gazette 94 and was a selection of designs. The snow gnomes were so cute I couldn't resist. 

The other challenge I have made into a gift for a friend's birthday later in the year so I'll have to keep it secret until then.

Needlecraft Haven also had a Valentine's Exchange for which we could stitch anything for our secret partner. I made this Love ornament for Julie and I received a lovely ornament from Christine which I posted about in GG February 

I've finished the Just Cross Stitch 2020 Christmas Ornament Challenge for February, I'm stitching this as a SAL with Jo on Facebook. I also used it as a Theme Three finish for Katie's blog Christmas Ornie SAL.

I did finish my daughter's gift in time for her birthday, I'll be showing it in my Gifted Gorgeousness for March. 

I haven't done any more on my FLIP ITs but hopefully I'll have time this month. My March stitching will be: 

• French Hens by Jardin Prive and Plum Street Samplers 
• JCS ornament 
• Easter Exchange with Needlecraft Haven 
• Spring Challenges with Needlecraft Haven 
• A gift for April

I hope everyone has had a good February, I cannot believe spring starts tomorrow and it's the third month of 2021 already..... stay safe, stay well. 

February Smalls

 

Mary at Mary's Thread hosts the Smalls SAL. On the last Friday of the month we share our small stitching items that we have completed but not necessarily fully finished. Mary has a link up post on her blog so we can pop over to see everyone's work. 

This month my smalls have been my two 12 Days of Christmas ornaments for Day 2: Two Turtle Doves. I'm stitching these as a SAL with Needlecraft Haven, Jo's Facebook SAL and the Christmas Ornie SAL blog hosted by Kaye. 

I'm doing Jardin Prive and Plum Street Samplers designs and am finishing both sets as individual pieces - you can see my Day 1 finishes on my FFO February post.

My Jardin Prive piece was fun to stitch, I think the white will show more once it's made up as there will not be so much background fabric.

My Plum Street Sampler piece was a nightmare.... three frogs visited which isn't easy as I'm doing these over one. And I noticed once the photo was taken I have a crease, it wasn't there stitching it and I store them flat .... this piece is spooked for sure!

I think I have stitched what I wanted to this month, I'll know for sure when I post February's WIPocalypse on Sunday. This afternoon I'll be sitting up my March plans ... DH loves (not) the end of each month as I need my boxes of stash from under the stairs, I do make a list so I get everything I need in one go ...

... so I best go and make the list 😉

February's Gifted Gorgeousness

 

I'm a day late but yesterday was the 15th of each month which means it's Gifted Gorgeousness time, the time each month when we share our latest gifts. These can be gifts given or received, or any item made using fabric, threads, buttons, ribbon, chart, backing fabric that has been gifted.

This great idea is hosted each month by the lovely Jo at Serendipitous Stitching,  if you visit her blog you'll find the links to everyone's Gifted Gorgeousness posts. 

My first gift is a scissor fob I made for my friend Mary. I really enjoyed stitching the blackwork and was so pleased to find fabric, thread and ribbon to complement each other.

Last year I spent some time making cards to use up some of my crafting stash. I sent Mary one of the small decoupage ones, a bit fiddly but fun to do and quite effective. 

My second gift this  month is my Valentine's Exchange from ??

A few members of Needlecraft Haven took part in a Valentine's Exchange, organised by Mary. It's a secret exchange so not only do I not know who sent this lovely ornament and my delicious chocolate heart but I can't share the gift I made and sent to my partner. 

Finally a non stitchy gift. One of my lovely friends gave me this unusual Bouquet as a  'thinking of you' gift when a close relative passed away. It's very cleverly put together; the single colours are artificial carnations and the multicoloured ones are rolled up socks. 

Tomorrow is our daughter's 27th birthday but we haven't been able to see her this year with the travel restrictions. We've sent gifts including something I have stitched and will share next month. I'm looking forward to our video call tomorrow to at least see her when she opens our gifts ... I cannot wait until we can visit again. 

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

 💕💕 Happy Valentine's Day 💕💕

Jo at Serendipitous Stitching is hosting Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop. Jo is so lovely to do this again (and many other blog activities) for us all to enjoy, thank you Jo.

So how do you join in ..... well Jo sent me this Valentine's photo but I do not know who my Secret Sweetheart Stitcher is. 

On Jo's blog is the list of everyone taking part so we can Hop around all the blogs to find our own photo and reveal that we are their Secret Sweetheart Stitcher 💕

Are you my Secret Sweetheart Stitcher? 

So excited - it's nearly Valentine's Day

It's nearly Valentine's Day - a special day for Hubby and I as it's our engagement anniversary- way back in 1986. This is a photo of our engagement page in our wedding memories book, don't we look young hee hee

I love decorating our lounge with my Valentine's stitching - some items I have stitched, some are treasured gifts from friends. Hubby has spoilt me with a beautiful bouquet and red roses. 

I'm quite excited as Saturday night we're having a virtual cocktail night with our friends via Messenger - ladies are wearing red for Valentine's and the chaps are dressing smart. Hubby and I have put the cocktails together and will be dropping them off at our friends along with a few Valentine's treats. 

With everything that has happened/is happening I am so looking forward to Sunday - I have a super gift for Hubby. We've a special meal planned, it's opening day for Needlecraft Haven's Valentine's Exchange .... AND .... it's Jo's Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop! 

Fully Finished Objects in February

 

Rachel, Ten Hour Stitcher, is the host of Fully Finished Objects for us to show and tell about the crafty items we have completely finished. You may have seen my first finish before and the other two as smalls, I'm very pleased with this month's finishes.

This is the first ornament for Jo's Just Cross Stitch SAL on Facebook, I'm really enjoying this although I have yet to start February's stitching. It's a great way for me to stitch some Christmas items. This in Poinsetta by Punochka. 

This is Day 1 of Jardin Prive's 12 Days of Christmas. I will be finishing them all the same way, it's backed with green felt. This piece is a SAL with Needlecraft Haven, we're stitching any 12 Days design but we cannot reveal our work until the 25th of each month. 

My other FFO is another 12 Days design also for the Needlecraft Haven SAL. This is Plum Street Samplers design and again they will all be finished this way, it's red felt on this backing. 

Both these items also fit in with Jo's SAL on Facebook for stitching 12 Days of Christmas and for Kaye's additional blog Christmas Ornie SAL 2021

I have other finishes but as yet they are secret. Thanks Rachel for hosting this as it does help me actually finish the items I stitch. 

WIPocalypse - January

 

I'm quite exciting to be joining in with WIPocalypse this year. I posted all about this SAL and my 2021 plans in early January - My 2021 Plans

I don't keep any record of how long I stitch for or the number of stitches but I do have a page at the top of my blog showing my finishes, so far January has been quite good. Here's how I have done:

I am stitching two 12 days designs; Jardin Privé and Plum Street Sampler. I have stitched both but not yet finished them, partly because I have not quite decided on how I want to do them.

I am stitching the Just Cross Stitch SAL on Facebook with Jo. This month was Poinsetta by Punochka, I haven't looked at February's design yet.

I haven't started either of the Seasonal Challenges with Needlecraft Haven but I have kitted them both up and I think I know what I will be using them for.

I have stitched and finished a Valentine's design for Needlecraft Haven's Exchange, it will be posting time soon. I'll be able to reveal this in February's GG post.

This month I have stitched and given two gifts, both for friends' birthdays. I have had this fabric coaster or mini mat in mynstash for a while and decided to stitch it for my friend Gill. 

My second gift was for my friend Mary who lives in France. I think, well I hope, I had read she was collecting scissor fobs so I stitched a small blackwork design and added a matching ribbons. 

I have not done any work on my Flip Its and I have not finished the flowers for my Bouquet, mainly because I have been stitching a very special gift that I cannot share just now. 

I hope I have understood WIPocalypse correctly and this post is ok. Each month Melissa poses a question, this month's is: 

Tell us about a WIP on which you’ve really struggled to make progress. Explain its history. What appears to be the reason you’re struggling?

I have a few items in my drawers that are stitched but not finished, that seems to be my issue. This is partly because I am nervous that I will make a mess of finishing (I'm never very confident that my finishing looks good) and some items it's because I don't know what to do with them. 

I do have two projects waiting for the stitching to be completed, one has been left because my original plan for its finish will not now work, and the other is because it's a bigger project than I thought and I don't have time or inclination for it ... maybe one day these will appear again. 

Here's my February plans: 

Finishing   

Day 1 ornaments for 12 Days of Christmas 

Flowers for Bouquet of Flowers

Stitching  

Day 2 for both my 12 Days of Christmas 

Needlecraft Haven's Challenges

November and December Flip Its

JCS Christmas Ornament